Rallus indicus
The Brown-cheeked Rail (Rallus indicus) is a medium-sized, highly secretive wetland bird belonging to the family Rallidae. Measuring 25-29 cm (10-11.5 inches) in length and weighing between 89-200 grams, it is characterized by its distinctive brownish-grey cheeks, which give the species its common name. Its plumage features a streaked dark brown and black back, contrasting with grey underparts and prominently barred black and white flanks. The species sports a long, slender, reddish-brown bil...
This species primarily inhabits dense freshwater wetlands, marshes, reedbeds, rice paddies, and wet grasslands, typically at low elevations.
Their diet primarily consists of aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates such as insects, worms, mollusks, and crustaceans, supplemented by small fish, amphibians, and various plant materials like seeds and roots.
The Brown-cheeked Rail is notoriously secretive and largely crepuscular or nocturnal, often remaining hidden within dense vegetation during the day. It forages by probing its long bill into soft mud and gleaning from vegetation, searching for invertebrates and plant matter. During the breeding se...
The breeding range of the Brown-cheeked Rail spans across East Asia, including the Russian Far East (Siberia, Sakhalin), Japan (Hokkaido, Honshu), the Korean Peninsula, northeastern China, and parts of Mongolia. During the non-breeding season, these rails migrate south to winter across a broad ar...
Least Concern
- The Brown-cheeked Rail is far more often heard than seen, a testament to its secretive nature within dense wetland habitats. - Despite their short, rounded wings, these rails are migratory, undertaking impressive journeys between their breeding and wintering grounds. - Their laterally compresse...